Word Problem

Question

A path of uniform width surrounds a rectangular weimming pool that is 30ft long and 16ft wide. Find the width of the path assuming that its area is 312ft.

Answer 1

 

  32w + 60w + 4w^2 = 312

 

 4w^2 + 92w - 312 = 0

 

w^2 + 23w - 78 = 0

 

(w    -   3 )(w   +  26    ) = 0

 

w+26=0 results in negative measures

 

w  - 3 = 0 ---> w= 3

 

3 feet wide